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Chicagoland Plumbing Tip #33 – Find Hidden Leaks with Smoke Test

Search for Hidden Leaks by Smoke Test in Chicago and Suburbs

Are you experiencing sewer odor or rats? You may even have sewer gas or hidden leaks that you are unaware of. The culprit may be a cracked or broken sewer, or an otherwise damaged drain pipe. The Scottish Plumber can now help find problems and protect your system by using the most advanced and accurate testing system available.

Let The Scottish Plumber, a 2-time Super Service Award winner and “A” rated company on Angie’s List, help you find the problem with our new odorless, non-staining, non-toxic smoke system, which can identify the location of any leak in your drains pipes.

Here is how it works. By forcing smoke-filled air through a plumbing system using a special machine, leaks are quickly detected as smoke escapes through the problem areas.

Smoke testing has become a world-wide standard for finding leaks in sewer and plumbing systems. And since the smoke is perfectly safe, it has even been approved for use in schools.

Chicago Plumber Tip#32 Trenchless Sewer Repair Works

According to a recent article in Angie’s List Magazine, 78% of homeowners surveyed did not know their broken or cracked sewers could be repaired or replaced without digging up their properties. 73% said they would be willing to pay more for such a repair if it meant that their decks, patios, gardens, or walkways could be saved.

The great news is that they can have their cake and eat it, too. The Scottish Plumber’s Trenchless Sewer Repair process can save both your yard and your money. Most procedures are less expensive than traditional excavation, and there’s no need for expensive landscape and hardscape restorations.

For more information on Trenchless Sewer Repair, visit the trenchless section of the Scottish Plumber website or read this article from Angie’s List Magazine.

Chicago Plumber Tip#31 – Top 5 Reasons for Low Water Pressure

1. Faucet aerators are blocked
A faucet aerator is the little strainer at the tip of most household faucets. Without an aerator, water flows out of the faucet as one large stream. An aerator spreads this stream into tiny droplets, helping to both save water and minimize splashing.

Aerators should be removed annually and checked for mineral deposits built up inside of the openings. You should be able to get these deposits off with just water and a brush, but if you can’t, soaking in vinegar should do the trick.

Another common symptom of a clogged aerator is an irregular spray pattern or a stray stream of water going off at an odd direction. If you see this happening, it’s time for a cleaning.

2. Valves not open all the way
Occasionally, one of the valves controlling the water supply to your home gets stuck in a slightly closed position and restricts the flow. This usually happens either at the meter valve or at the main valve. The meter valve is found in the meter box, while the main valve is located near the outside hose faucet. Make sure both are in the open position by turning in a counterclockwise direction.

Be careful when dealing with older valves. They may be brittle and have the potential to break. Old gate valves, which tend to get stuck or break at the most inopportune times, should be replaced with ball valves, which are much more reliable over time, and much easier to use.

3. Your old pipes are made of galvanized steel
Calcium and other mineral deposits love galvanized steel. So much, in fact, that they often stay behind, making a home inside of your pipes. Over time, the inside diameter of the pipe is reduced to a point where the water flow becomes restricted.

There is no easy solution. Once a pipe becomes blocked with sediment, the only way to repair the problem is to replace the pipe.

4. There is a hidden leak
A leak at any point in your water supply system can result in low pressure. If the leak is not visible, there is a way to check.

First, shut off all the faucets inside and outside of your home. Check the meter reading and write it down. Wait several hours, and check the meter again. If there is an increase in water usage, you probably have a leak.

At this point, you should call a plumber. An unattended leak can not only increase your water bill, it can also wreak havoc on your walls, ceilings, and floors.

5. Municipal water pressure is inadequate.
The water supply for many towns in the Chicago area is dependent on century-old infrastructure. So, while the ideal water pressure for the average home is between 40 and 60 psi, many municipalities deliver substantially less than that.

If the municipal pressure coming into your home is inadequate, the problem can be resolved by installing a booster pump. But first, you must make sure that this is what’s causing the problem. The Scottish Plumber can test the water pressure coming into your home using a special pressure gauge and tell you whether a booster pump is a good solution for your specific problem.

If you need help with any water pressure issue, call The Scottish Plumber at 888-622-2564, or visit our website at www.scottishplumber.com.

Lombard Plumber Tip #30: An In-Depth Pipe Inspection

Have you invested in Lombard plumbing services, had a plumber come to your home, and then experienced the same exact plumbing issue after the plumber left? Well, let’s not rush to blame the plumber, because complex plumbing issues sometimes require complex plumbing equipment that not all plumbing companies have on hand. However, it is equally important to hold your plumber accountable for the quality of his or her work. At The Scottish Plumber, our Lombard plumbers are professionally trained to provide the most thorough residential plumbing and commercial plumbing services on the market.

All of the Lombard plumbers at The Scottish Plumber are professionally trained to use the latest plumbing technology available, such as a sewer video camera or non-invasive (no-dig or trenchless) pipe repair.

Video camera pipe inspection is a plumbing service that can reveal what we cannot see with the naked eye. The video camera pipe inspection machine can snake down into those hard to reach pipes and give us an up close and personal look at their condition. This allows us to more precisely locate pipe issues such as cracks, holes, and corroded areas. An in-depth plumbing inspection should include video camera pipe inspection, so if this is what you are looking for, please contact the Lombard plumbers at The Scottish Plumber today.

Drain Cleaning – Villa Park

Drain Cleaning Villa Park Homeowners Can Depend On

There are few problems more annoying than a clogged drain. It can interrupt daily life, create a mess, and leave you with an unexpected expense. Luckily for Villa Park homeowners, The Scottish Plumber is your hometown drain cleaning expert.

So, if you experience a drain backup or a slow drain, don’t worry. Our friendly and professional drain rodding experts are here to help. We provide 24-hour service anywhere in Villa Park and will have your drain unclogged faster than you can say “Ovaltine.”

Everyday Low Prices

The Scottish Plumber’s philosophy is honesty and transparency in pricing. That’s why our estimates are 100% free, we always quote the price up-front, and there are never any hidden fees.

Please note that occasionally circumstances such as an extremely difficult access could warrant an additional charge, but we will always be up-front and never charge or perform a service without your knowledge.

How to Schedule an Appointment?

To schedule an appointment, simply fill out the appointment form on this page or give us a call at 888-451-6137.

Elmhurst Plumber Tip #28: Attic Pipe Repair

At this time of year, Elmhurst plumbers and Elmhurst plumbing contractors have their work cut out for them. In this part of the country as temperatures continue to drop, the likelihood of your residential plumbing and commercial plumbing systems experiencing freezing and potential bursting increases. When pipes are exposed to cold air and then to moisture, the result can be frozen pipes which can eventually lead to bursting. The pipes that may run through your attic are typically more susceptible to freezing, and therefore, a thorough plumbing maintenance visit at this time of year should include attic pipe maintenance and inspection.

Attic pipe repair is a plumbing service that can really make winter easier to bear this year. Attic pipes are usually more exposed than pipes that run underground or near the foundation of your home, meaning cold air can reach them more easily that submersed piping. Cold air coupled with moisture is a recipe for attic pipe freezing, so rather than incur the expense of repairing those hard-to-reach attic pipes, we encourage you to contact an Elmhurst plumber or Elmhurst plumbing contractor for an attic pipe inspection visit.

The Scottish Plumber is proud to offer many residential plumbing and commercial plumbing services such as video camera pipe inspection, pipe relining, trenchless sewer replacement, plumbing fixture installation, sewer cleaning, drain cleaning, and sewer and drain maintenance, bathroom renovation assistance, toilet repairs, sink repairs, kitchen fixture repairs, bathroom fixture repairs, and much more. Call an Elmhurst plumber or Elmhurst plumbing contractor from The Scottish Plumber to learn more.

Downers Grove Plumber Tip #27: Winter Flood Prevention

The Downers Grove plumbers and Downers Grove plumbing contractors at the Scottish Plumber are devoted to helping you improve your winter flood prevention efforts. Winter flooding may seem uncommon, but consider how much snowfall we get each winter in this part of the country. On warmer days, this fallen snow can melt and produce a great deal of runoff, and that is where winter flood prevention becomes important. Runoff water can enter your basement just as easily as rainfall during the winter, so on warmer days you want o make sure that you already have in place those basement flooding prevention systems that will keep the foundation of your home safe and dry.

Having a working sump pump is one way to ensure that your basement will at least have a means of ameliorating a basement flooding situation. Same with a battery back up sump pump. The battery back up sump pump is what provides power to your sump pump in case of a power outage or power surge. Having these sump pump systems in place with routine sump pump maintenance (or sump pump installation if your basement does not have one) will reduce the risk of basement flooding damaging your home.

The Scottish Plumber’s team of Downers Grove plumbers and Downers Grove plumbing contractors are professionally trained to install, maintain, and replace pumps and battery backup systems which can help prevent winter flooding in your residential or commercial property. Simply pick up the phone and call us today to learn more about winter flood prevention tips.

Trenchless Sewer Repair – Des Plaines

Trenchless Sewer Repair is a term Des Plaines homeowners should learn. With many homes over 100 years old, and an abundance of clay piping, most residents will at one point or another experience some kind of problem with their sewer.

Trenchless Sewer Repair Saves Your Lawn and More

Sewer repair done using traditional methods is often a messy project. It usually involves excavation which means either digging in the yard or breaking up the basement floor. Often, the sewer is located under another object, such as a deck, a stoop, or a concrete walkway – and all of these things have to be removed in order to make the repair.

This is especially impactful in towns like Des Plaines where homeowners really put a lot of care into their yards. What’s worse, after the sewer has been repaired, the homeowner has to deal with the headaches and costs of restoration. This is where the Trenchless method comes in and completely saves the day.

Conventional sewer repair often requires a lot of digging as you can see in the photo above. It takes quite a bit of time and effort to restore your lawn to its original state.

How Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Work?

There are two types of Trenchless Sewer Repair Des Plaines customers can take advantage of:

Sewer Liner (also known as Trenchless Sewer Relining or Sewer Lining) – typically used to repair longer sections of pipe – usually 20 feet or longer. It can also be used in place of conventional sewer replacement.
Pipe Stent Trenchless Sewer Repair – typically used to repair shorter sections of pipe and for spot repairs.

With the Trenchless method, we’re able to install a new section of pipe inside of the damaged pipe using woven fiberglass and resins. The new pipe is stronger than any cast iron, clay, or PVC pipe (see video at bottom of page), and it’s smooth and seamless, which improves flow and ensures proper drainage.

Clay pipe, which is very common in Des Plaines, has a major weakness. It allows roots to penetrate through the connections between sections of pipe. Trenchless Sewer Repair completely seals off these connections wherever it’s installed and completely blocks the roots from entering the pipe.

Watch the Pipe Stent Trenchless Repair process in this short video

Trenchless Sewer Repair Saves You Money

Trenchless Sewer Repair is also less expensive than conventional repair and that’s BEFORE you take the costs of any kind of restoration into account. It also comes with a 50-year warranty, which is about 5 to 10 times longer than the typical warranty on conventional sewer repair or replacement.

The Scottish Plumber has some of the most experienced technicians in the industry when it comes to Trenchless. We have done hundreds of such repairs all over Chicagoland, many of them in Des Plaines, so homeowners can rest easy knowing that the job will be done quickly and properly by a well-trained and experienced professional.

In this short video, we test the strength of the Pipe Stent using a sledgehammer and some elbow grease.

For more information or to schedule a free estimate, use the red appointment form at the top of this page, give us a call at 888-451-6137, or contact us here.

Villa Park Plumber Tip #25: Why Go Trenchless?

The Villa Park plumbers and Villa Park plumbing contractors at Scottish Plumber are proud to offer a wide range of residential plumbing services and commercial plumbing services, including sewer cleaning, drain cleaning, plumbing installation, trenchless sewer repair, trenchless sewer line replacement, sump pump installation, and sump pump maintenance, to name a few. If you are a Villa Park homeowner, then we can understand that you value your precious real estate investment. For that reason alone, we strive to provide cost-effective plumbing repair and plumbing maintenance services that will help to extend the life of your plumbing systems so you can continue to enjoy a return on investment from your property. When it comes to sewer line replacement, the need to repair your sewers in the least invasive way is paramount to the work that we do.

The Villa Park plumbers and Villa Park plumbing contractors at the Scottish Plumber are glad to provide trenchless sewer line replacement and trenchless sewer repair services, both of which present several advantages over conventional sewer line repair that requires a trench to be dug in your yard. Trenchless sewer line replacement, on the other hand, requires the least digging out of all of our sewer line replacement techniques. When we successfully complete this plumbing repair service, you will not be left with the burden of re-landscaping your yard, rebuilding your deck, or repaving your driveway. Trenchless sewer line replacement is precise, expedient, and minimally invasive. Call us today to learn more.

Chicagoland Flood Control Rebates

Village Flood Control Rebates
A major contributor to flooded basements in the Chicagoland area is a network of inadequate and aging municipal sewer systems that simply can’t handle the volume during times of heavy rainfall.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent such a flood. One option is to install a flood control system which blocks sewer water from entering your basement. Another is to replace your standard gravity sewer line, with an elevated overhead sewer system, which would prevent the sewage from ever reaching a level high enough to enter your home.
The better news is that if you’re thinking about one of these options, now is a great time to have it done. Some Chicagoland villages have decided to offer programs designed to encourage residents to invest in such improvements, and are now offering rebates to help pay for them.
Here is a list of village rebates currently available. If your town is not on the list, contact your village’s Building Department to ask if they offer a similar program.
• Addison (630-543-4100)
o Currently offering rebate of up to $2000 for conversion to an overhead sewer.

• Arlington Heights (847-368-5000)
o Currently offering rebate of up to $5000 for conversion to an overhead sewer.

• Des Plaines (847-391-5300)
o Currently offering rebates of up to $2000 for the installation of a battery back-up sump pump, an indoor flood control system, or conversion to an overhead sewer.

• Elmhurst (630-530-3000)
o Currently offering rebate of up to $5000 for conversion to an overhead sewer.

• Glencoe (847-835-4111)
o Currently offering rebate of up to $2000 for conversion to an overhead sewer or the installation of a flood control system.

• Morton Grove (847-965-4100)
o Currently offering interest-free loans for a conversion to an overhead sewer or the installation of a flood control system.

• Palatine (847-358-7500)
o Currently offering rebate of up to $6000 for conversion to an overhead sewer.

• Schaumburg (847-895-4500)
o Currently offering rebate of up to $5000 for conversion to an overhead sewer.